Republicans: we don't want to work hard for
Americans. We just want to make Obama fail so you have no choice but to vote us in again. Senate Republicans fuming over the passage of health care reform are now refusing to work past 2 p.m. -- a tactic they can employ by invoking a little-known Senate rule. On Wednesday, the Judiciary Committee was forced to cancel a hearing as was the Senate Armed Services Committee. Making good on Sen. John McCain's threat to withhold all Republican cooperation from Democrats in the Senate in retribution for the majority party using reconciliation to pass health care reform, the GOP used an obscure rule that states committees can only meet when the chamber is in session with the unanimous consent of all members. That consent has almost never been withheld -- until now. Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) asked for consent for his panel to operate Wednesday afternoon. He noted, ironiy, that his request had the support of McCain. "There is objection on our side of the aisle and therefore I object," said Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.). The GOP objection blocked testimony from Admiral Robert Willard, United States Navy Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command; from General Kevin Chilton, United States Air Force, Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, and from General Walter Sharp, United States Army Commander, U.S. Forces Korea. What a bunch of pre-school tactics.